Trenton taxi driver found dead inside cab in Burlington

By Ana Ceballos

Monday, June 17, 2013

aceballos@trentonian.comBURLINGTON CITY — Larry Hamilton had been a taxicab driver for more than 25 years. Every morning he would get in his cab and would listen to funk and gospel music before going out to do the job. But last Sunday morning, the music was off inside Hamilton’s cab.

In the early hours of June 16, the 49-year-old taxi cab driver’s body was found inside his cab by the side of the road in Burlington City.

Police arrived at approximately 2 a.m. initially believing they would be dealing with a car accident at the intersection of Route 130 North and York Street, but when they arrived at the scene it was ruled a homicide.

Friends of the driver say they called him ‘Big Him’ because of his size. The divorced father of two was described as a true gentleman and a teacher to all the cab drivers at work.

“Everyone loved him; no single driver disliked him because he loved everyone. He was our teacher, he would teach all the cab drivers. He taught me,” Muhammad Ali, a Trenton taxi cab driver, said.

The Trenton taxi cab driver was last seen picking up a fare at Trenton Rail Station between 1 and 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

“You get people dressing nice and talking to you nice, but midway everything changes. This is a dangerous job, too dangerous,” Trenton taxi driver and Hamilton’s friend Letroit Juste said.

Investigators are not releasing additional information detailing the exact cause of death, citing the ongoing investigation.

The homicide is being investigated by Burlington City Police. Anyone with information that can help the investigation should contact Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113.